Buying Booze In Tachilek

[anonymouse]

The Burmese Gin isn't bad either for the price, another one left over from colonial times I suppose. Last time I was in Rangoon about six years back a couple of cans of tonic were more expensive than the gin.

Yes they have some interesting beers at the duty free shop sometimes, I've drank the Bulgarian one but also have had obscure Russian and Chinese beers there as well.

[wigantojapan]

bought a genuine bottle of LAGAVULIN 3 weeks back yes and it was the singapore import

.I must be blind as i was expecting booze shops everywhere from reading past posts but i only found one.

basically after imigration i went down the stairs into the market turned left

hussled by viagra sellers kept on walking quickly

went as far as the market goes turned right and there is a shop there on the right hand side

good selection of various whiskies and even had torro wine from spain class drink

then i spotted the lagavulin

you cant even get this in scotland as it is a small distillery,well i should add you can but it sells out quickly

so i checked the bottle, the label, the seal for about 30 minutes and it seemed and felt good to me

was expensive but hey its my birthday soon and its the best whisky in the world at that price.

the girl in the shop who spoke good english did mention another shop but i didnt see any apart from a market stall type on the bridge just befoe you collected your paspport again on the burma side

for Helly dolly to read again Slowly regarding real and taste hint GENUINE and BEST IN THE WORLD

Well not being a Scotsman I couldn't really reply to the quality of it. All I know was Johnny Walker and Cutty Sark were good enough for me. Bear in mind I drank it rather than sip it.

By the way you mentioned best whiskey in the world at that price. Which side of 300 baht was it on?

haha you crack me up dolly mixed up man(regarding whisky,i,m sure there ae things you know about)

yes culp down yer cutty sark and johhny walker like a one night stand easily forgotten after the next one nighter.

whereas a single malt full bodied, warm, complex ,slowly given up its sectets ,releasing it s power slowly on your body and mind yes its good to sip it because every sip will touch a nerve in your body and soul

.Lagavulin no two bottles the same.no two sips the same,

ok thats my wee lecture to dolly for everyone else there are real quality whiskies at mae sae

.I could split hairs and say they are owned by the French but they know abit .quite a bit about the complexities of smell taste and sensual intoxications

,,so have no fear like people have said previous poster.In amongst the fakes and all the bulshit shines diamonds that few have embrassed.

aye some dont know there feet fi their arse slainte

[wigantojapan]

My friend, who smokes cigarettes, bought two different name brand cartons in Tachilek, and upon opening discovered that the cigs were filled with something tantamount to dirt and leaves. Unsmokable. My hunch is that anything in Tachilek that claims to be name brand, is not. Personally I'd stay away from the booze as well. It's kinda like that silly notion, you get what you pay for.

There is also the very common marketing ploy of making commodities expensive to trick people into thinking they are getting the real deal .

higher prices doesnt always equate to genuiness or even VALUE for that matter regarding getting what you pay for

[wigantojapan]

I think it's all fake, does not matter where you buy it.I tried it several times, tastes different, label looks different, some labels are not being used by the liquor producers for years already. Old stock? I doubt it.

what labels are you talking about that are out of date

.its always good to know how to identify a fake from the real and labelling is a major factor as they can put a fake drink into a real bottle

,but yes they normally mess up with the labels

[CMHomeboy78]

bought a genuine bottle of LAGAVULIN 3 weeks back yes and it was the singapore import

.I must be blind as i was expecting booze shops everywhere from reading past posts but i only found one.

basically after imigration i went down the stairs into the market turned left

hussled by viagra sellers kept on walking quickly

went as far as the market goes turned right and there is a shop there on the right hand side

good selection of various whiskies and even had torro wine from spain class drink

then i spotted the lagavulin

you cant even get this in scotland as it is a small distillery,well i should add you can but it sells out quickly

so i checked the bottle, the label, the seal for about 30 minutes and it seemed and felt good to me

was expensive but hey its my birthday soon and its the best whisky in the world at that price.

the girl in the shop who spoke good english did mention another shop but i didnt see any apart from a market stall type on the bridge just befoe you collected your paspport again on the burma side

for Helly dolly to read again Slowly regarding real and taste hint GENUINE and BEST IN THE WORLD

Well not being a Scotsman I couldn't really reply to the quality of it. All I know was Johnny Walker and Cutty Sark were good enough for me. Bear in mind I drank it rather than sip it.

By the way you mentioned best whiskey in the world at that price. Which side of 300 baht was it on?

haha you crack me up dolly mixed up man(regarding whisky,i,m sure there ae things you know about)

yes culp down yer cutty sark and johhny walker like a one night stand easily forgotten after the next one nighter.

whereas a single malt full bodied, warm, complex ,slowly given up its sectets ,releasing it s power slowly on your body and mind yes its good to sip it because every sip will touch a nerve in your body and soul

.Lagavulin no two bottles the same.no two sips the same,

ok thats my wee lecture to dolly for everyone else there are real quality whiskies at mae sae

.I could split hairs and say they are owned by the French but they know abit .quite a bit about the complexities of smell taste and sensual intoxications

,,so have no fear like people have said previous poster.In amongst the fakes and all the bulshit shines diamonds that few have embrassed.

aye some dont know there feet fi their arse slainte

Give him strong drink, until he wink,

That's sinkin' in despair;

An' liquor guid to fire his bluid,

That's prest wi' grief an' care;

There let him bouse, an' deep carouse,

Wi' bumpers flowing o'er,

Till he forgets his loves or debts,

An minds his griefs no more.

[iainiain101]

Picked up some reasonable Port in Tachilek at the Duty Free on the bridge last week. In Chiang Mai the only option is usually Rimping at 1500 Baht a pop.

How much at the duty free shop assuming it is the same brand?

They have more choice in Burma with brands ranging from 350 to 1500 Baht. I wouls equate the Rimping one to about a 750 baht Burmese duty free bottle.

Dont forget to ask for a discount in the shop as they allways seem happy to drop the price a bit from the lable.

If you like Sambuca Molinari they stock that as well at 450 a litre bottle. I have never been able to find Molinari in Chiang Mai.

[thaigolfer]

And I can testify now it is all FAKE.

I bought a 1 liter Vodka Smirnoff 21 bottle for 370 Baht at the shop between the two immigration's.

Coming home I compared it with an original bottle and the Tachilek bottle was Ok, 100 % the same. As for the content, however, completely different story. After opening the bottle I noticed a terrible methanol smell. The taste was horrible.

I asked 3 friends to do a smell and taste test (comparing the 2 bottles) and all said the same: the bottle bought in Mae Sai was fake 1.000%.

I went to the barman at a big Chiang Mai hotel with the bottle and he told me it was Lao Kaw (rice whiskey).

Price of Lao Kaw is 55 Baht/liter ! This is NOT coming from Singapore as they suggest but straight from China I think.

As for the 100 pipers I bought, I still have to smell and taste but afraid to have the same result.

[jacktrip]

the cologne is definately fake. tried a bottle of polo black which im very familiar with. absoltuely filled with some cheap perfume. the glass bottle was a good imitation, could not tell from the bottle it was fake.

you will likely be safe buying spirits from a liquor selling store. i would not buy from a street vendor.

but you knew that right? famous city for knock offs, its not supposed to be real. part of the fun is the inspection. try it before you buy it.

Edited December 14, 2012 by jacktrip

[thaigolfer]

you will likely be safe buying spirits from a liquor selling store. i would not buy from a street vendor.

I guess the big duty free shop in between the two immigration points is a liquor shop.... hm hm...... no?

[MESmith]

I only buy the beers at the duty free. Pretty sure it's real. Who in the world would go to the trouble of faking Bulgarian stout. Once got Murphy's stout there. Definitely the genuine article. Hoegaarden beer tasted genuine.

[Briggsy]

I have bought Aussie wine at the duty free shop and it certainly seemed genuine.

[wigantojapan]

And I can testify now it is all FAKE.

I bought a 1 liter Vodka Smirnoff 21 bottle for 370 Baht at the shop between the two immigration's.

Coming home I compared it with an original bottle and the Tachilek bottle was Ok, 100 % the same. As for the content, however, completely different story. After opening the bottle I noticed a terrible methanol smell. The taste was horrible.

I asked 3 friends to do a smell and taste test (comparing the 2 bottles) and all said the same: the bottle bought in Mae Sai was fake 1.000%.

I went to the barman at a big Chiang Mai hotel with the bottle and he told me it was Lao Kaw (rice whiskey).

Price of Lao Kaw is 55 Baht/liter ! This is NOT coming from Singapore as they suggest but straight from China I think.

As for the 100 pipers I bought, I still have to smell and taste but afraid to have the same result.

bottle can be original with contents fake

check very carefully around the top of the bottle that usually has a plastic piece fitting over the capt before the seal

check underneath to see if it is clean if not it has been opened

also good to knowthe size of the bottle cap and kind

thats when they srew up a lot on fakes and genuine....

you can get a litre bottle o bells for under 400 baht much better whisky than 100 pipers and one that is drunk in scotland

[wigantojapan]

i think the moral of this is know what you want to buy.

the fakers are good but the more you know about what you want to buy easier it is to spot a fake

the alcohol in thailand is just as likely to be fake as it is in burma

so for the saving of a few hundred baht do some research

even buy your drink here ...look at the bottle very carefully,,,,like i said before they screw up in the cap area as well as the labelling more than the fake bottle

[wigantojapan]

the viagra is real though

[wigantojapan]

Picked up some reasonable Port in Tachilek at the Duty Free on the bridge last week. In Chiang Mai the only option is usually Rimping at 1500 Baht a pop.

How much at the duty free shop assuming it is the same brand?

They have more choice in Burma with brands ranging from 350 to 1500 Baht. I wouls equate the Rimping one to about a 750 baht Burmese duty free bottle.

Dont forget to ask for a discount in the shop as they allways seem happy to drop the price a bit from the lable.

If you like Sambuca Molinari they stock that as well at 450 a litre bottle. I have never been able to find Molinari in Chiang Mai.

couldnt get the girl to come down on the lagavulin price 1 baht...

i even put it back at one stage and picked up 2 bottles of cheap whisky

still couldnt let it go so after about 30 minutes bought it but yes try to get the price down

[jacktrip]

you will likely be safe buying spirits from a liquor selling store. i would not buy from a street vendor.

I guess the big duty free shop in between the two immigration points is a liquor shop.... hm hm...... no?

no, its a fake thats setup to look like a liquor shop.

[wigantojapan]

check out whisky review 275a and 275b on you tube giving advise on how to spot fakes

[thaigolfer]

Told you before: not one error to spot on the bottle, label or seal that could lead to fake content.

Everything perfect just filled with Lao Kaw or rice alcohol.

Beware for the Vodka Smirnoff 1 liter 40% in Thachilek.

[Briggsy]

Told you before: not one error to spot on the bottle, label or seal that could lead to fake content.

Everything perfect just filled with Lao Kaw or rice alcohol.

Beware for the Vodka Smirnoff 1 liter 40% in Thachilek.

I can guarantee the Aussie wines are not filled with lao khao, seemed genuine to me.

[rookball]

bought corona over there, taste and smell like the gasohol 91 from ptt

[MESmith]

bought corona over there, taste and smell like the gasohol 91 from ptt

So it was the real deal

[Thighlander]

they had ants crawling on what they claimed was about a million thb worth of cuban cigars......everything is fake. I started a thread on this a few months ago, and it was moved to the Chiang Rai Forum.

[wigantojapan]

We used to have a 'connection' that had connections and you could order whatever you wanted and I have carried cases of Australian 'penfoils' that was smuggled across the border at Maesai and it was genuine at 1/4th the CM prices.....lost that connection years ago unfortunately.

Speaking of rum, which is my favorite hard spirit....there is a new local rum that beats any imports. Called 'Uncle Tom R' and it's a clear rum with a hint of molasses and says on the label that it is distilled from sugarcane.....not the usual grain alcohol with fake coloring and flavorings. If you like rum, give it a try.........219thb/bottle at tesco and Big C.

An earlier post mentioned a Burma rum that I would love to try.....any sources in CM??

hello jaideeguy

bought a bottle of the uncle tom after reading your post

3 different bottles one with v ,,one with g, and one with r so i guessed the r one was rum haha

no bad wee drink and for 210 baht yeah you could have a good wee night on it with a couple of friends

slightly too sweet for my taste buds so about 6-8 nips and that does me for the night

cheers

[millwall_fan]

I bought 4 bottles of single malt whisky from the shop on the bridge, all of which I have sampled this evening on my exclusive resort room balcony here in Mae Sai. All are entirely genuine. A very smooth West Highland malt called Clynelish. An Islay malt called Bunnahabhain, which is peaty island malt typical of the island, but from north Islay, so not as earthy peaty as Laphroiag. A pleasant Speyside malt called Glen Elgin and a Sirlingshire, uncharcoal filtered malt called Deanstown. I also bought half a dozen cans of Baliarka Bulgarian beer and very large can of Danish lager. I do hopeBurma doesn't lose it's pariah state status too soon!

[wigantojapan]

I bought 4 bottles of single malt whisky from the shop on the bridge, all of which I have sampled this evening on my exclusive resort room balcony here in Mae Sai. All are entirely genuine. A very smooth West Highland malt called Clynelish. An Islay malt called Bunnahabhain, which is peaty island malt typical of the island, but from north Islay, so not as earthy peaty as Laphroiag. A pleasant Speyside malt called Glen Elgin and a Sirlingshire, uncharcoal filtered malt called Deanstown. I also bought half a dozen cans of Baliarka Bulgarian beer and very large can of Danish lager. I do hopeBurma doesn't lose it's pariah state status too soon!

i went to tops today to get a bottle o Laphroig for xmas as the Lagavullin has went down a treat reather quicker than hoped

aye good whiskies they are promoting the diagio range up there and all genuine AT THIS MOMENT

like the weather can change quickly

the ods celtic mists o Avalon mus have been on the bridge the day i went across because as previously stated the only alcohol i saw on the bridge was a made up stall selling Thai whisky and maybe johnny walker and i was nae going to buy either.

if yer needing a drinking partner to help ye down that Bunnahabhain ( that would sober anyone up trying to spell that) give me a shout

come on the CELTIC

[mcgriffith]

I bought 4 bottles of single malt whisky from the shop on the bridge, all of which I have sampled this evening on my exclusive resort room balcony here in Mae Sai. All are entirely genuine. A very smooth West Highland malt called Clynelish. An Islay malt called Bunnahabhain, which is peaty island malt typical of the island, but from north Islay, so not as earthy peaty as Laphroiag. A pleasant Speyside malt called Glen Elgin and a Sirlingshire, uncharcoal filtered malt called Deanstown. I also bought half a dozen cans of Baliarka Bulgarian beer and very large can of Danish lager. I do hopeBurma doesn't lose it's pariah state status too soon!

On your recommendation millwall_fan, I bought just now the Bunnahabhain and the Deanston. Can't wait to try them.

I think the key issue here is that people need to know to use the official Myanmar gov't shop, located on the west side of the bridge. Name is "Intertrade".

Anything purchased from the market (east) side of the bridge (down in the market area, etc.) is hit or miss. Often dodgy goods, and you take a chance wasting your money entirely on cr_p.

I know this is stating the obvious, but folks constantly seem drawn to this area to buy....

[CMHomeboy78]

Update: Sunday, August 4th.

I drove up with my wife and a couple of her friends.

Immigration - both Thai and Burmese - was smooth. No changes, no surprises, and no hassles.

In Tachilek, the duty-free shop near the bridge was well-stocked as usual. The consensus seems to be that most, if not all, of what they sell is genuine. I still check the labels carefully to see if anything looks suspicious - misspelled words, etc.

What I wanted was Mandalay Rum, but they didn't have it.

Here are some random prices for those who may be interested. One litre bottles unless otherwise noted. Prices in baht.

Scotch:

Chivas Regal 990.

Dewar's [12 y.] 990.

JW Black 1250.

Bracklyn 390.

J&B 520.

Ballantines Finest 390.

" [17 y.] 1350.

Clan Gold 250.

Famous Grouse [12 y.] 790.

Glenlivet [15 y.] 990.

" [18 y.] 2500.

Clynelish [14 y.] 1450.

Glenkinchie [12 y.] 1690.

Macallan [12 y.] 2100.

Talisker [10 y.] 750ml 1500

Balvenie [12 y.] 1850.

Deanston [12 y.] 700ml 890.

Bourbon:

A very poor selection. I was looking for Evan Williams - a real Kentucky Bourbon and dirt-cheap in the States. But they didn't have it here.

Jim Beam Black 650.

Knob Creek 990.

Rum:

Meyers 750ml 390.

Captain Morgan 520.

Havana Club 750ml 390.

Vodka:

Absolut 420.

Smirnoff Black 590.

" [18 y.] 1900.

Danzka 430.

Miscellaneous:

Jameson Irish 700ml 590.

Jack Daniel's 690.

Bailey's Irish Cream 550.

Grand Marnier 790.

Cointreau 680.

Benedictine 790.

And a lot of vino from quite a few different countries. Those knowledgeable about vintage and price would probably find something to their liking.

Bottoms up!

[justcruisin]

I have purchased a lot of different bottles since Intertrade was opened and I can say the only fake I bought there was Jack Daniels. Check the label, it is not raised or embossed writing on the label.

In saying that every wine and other spirit seems to be the real thing.

My only gripe is that they no longer sell Bundaberg Rum!

[CMKiwi]

I concur about the duty free opposite the Myanmar immigration office. I have found most but not all booze in the eastern side to be fake. Seems to be typical of most Asian places that get frequented by foreigners. Even in Vientenne....GF and I picked up a few bottles of Malibu and one of Sambucca. The Malibu was absolute crap. Watery and smelt like Avtur.... was not impressed. Sambucca tho was the real McCoy and enjoyed over a few games of cribbage.

[CMKiwi]

Yep....spotted Bundy in another shop on the Eastern side but wasnt risking getting poisioned!